ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the concept of retention as it relates to African-American administrators at predominately white institutions (PWIs). This is achieved by analyzing three construct areas: college and university administration and African Americans; retention in higher education; and the findings of a study detailing practical steps for retaining African-American administrators at PWIs. When colleges and universities are implementing the steps or similar ones, they must bear in mind that diversity exists within the African-American community as well. The majority of the literature examines African-American women administrators, in an attempt to help increase the numbers and decrease the negative experiences for this population. The chapter outlines the retention literature on African Americans in higher education, discusses barriers to retention, presents a framework for job satisfaction, and conceptually constructs a definition for retention as it relates to administrators. Retention of African-American administrators begins with an institution’s recruitment and hiring practices.
